Method and apparatus to monitor a reservoir or a structure

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus to monitor the weight of a silo or tank is disclosed. The system is adapted to be attached to a leg of the silo and comprises a load cell, a support member anchored to the ground and a lifting device attached to the load cell and to the support member. The load cell comprises two extremities that are attached to the silo leg and comprises an aperture there between. The aperture is preferably threaded to receive the lifting device, such as a bolt. The bolt is rotated using a tool as to induce a movement of the load cell along the axis of the bolt thereby lifting the load cell and the attached silo leg. Strain gauges are attached to the load cell to measure the variation in an electric or optical signal that is translated in human readable data using a monitoring device.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present patent application claims the benefits of priority of U.S.Provisional Patent Application No. 62/380,556, entitled “METHOD ANDAPPARATUS TO MONITOR A RESERVOIR OR A STRUCTURE” and filed at the UnitedStates Patent and Trademark Office on Aug. 29, 2016, the content ofwhich is incorporated herein by reference. The present patentapplication is also a continuation of the PCT patent application no.PCT/CA2017/051015, entitled “METHOD AND APPARATUS TO MONITOR A RESERVOIROR A STRUCTURE” filed at the World Intellectual Property Organization onAug. 29, 2017, the content of which is also incorporated herein byreference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to the field of load cells, andmore particularly to devices and methods for weighting and liftingreservoir, tank, silo or other types of structures.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many facilities, such as cattle farms, must provide the animals anuninterrupted supply of food. This task is usually carried on with asilo containing food, such as grains. However, it occurs that the silogets empty without the producer or the feed supplier is notified. If notresolved quickly, this situation may cause important profit loss.

A solution to this problem has been proposed by Jaeger in the U.S. Pat.No. 7,980,129 where a silo monitoring system is proposed. Such system isable to lift the silo for measuring the weight of contained material. Aload cell is connected to a monitoring system that can generate alertsupon detection of abnormal activities, such as flow interruption.

The design disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,980,129 discloses a mechanicalconnector vertically mounted to a S-type load cell. Such assembly has alength which require an increased ground clearing to lift the bin. Thesuspension point of such assembly requires to raised several inches fromthe ground and requires a beefy and large A-Frame. Such frameInconvenient of such frame includes that the system has a very largefootprint and becomes unusable when the bin is mounted on small concreteblock. Also, the size and the weight of this assembly render difficultthe manipulation of the heavy parts and require an important men effortduring installation.

Also, the system disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,980,129 requires aconnector arranged to be connectable to one of the bin legs andsupporting the load, which increases the complexity and costs ofinstallation. Also, a plurality of pieces is required to properly attachthe silo leg to the load cell.

Another problem frequently found, several weighing equipment for feedingand weighing animals are mounted on load cells. When a load cell fails,the replacement is often complex and requires lifting equipment whichcomplicate the intervention.

In view of the drawbacks of prior art lifting and monitoring systems,there is thus a need for a system aiming at reducing the said drawbacksof the prior arts.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The shortcomings of the prior art are generally mitigated by providing amethod and apparatus for monitoring the weight of a reservoir, tank,silo or any weighing platform by analyzing the variation in electric oroptical signal of a strain gauge attached to a load cell supporting theweight of the said reservoir.

In one aspect of the present invention, a system for monitoring theweight of a silo is provided. The system comprises: a load cell, a loadcell support for supporting the load cell, at least one measuring means,such as a strain gauge, attached to the load cell for measuring thedeformation of the load cell, means to attach the load cell to a supportelement of the reservoir, such as but not limited to a silo leg. Themeans to attach the load cell may also allow lifting of said load celland support element. The apparatus further comprises a monitoring devicefor translating the variation in the signal outputted by the measuringmean.

In a further aspect of the invention, the system for lifting a silo maycomprise a raising means, such a lever mechanism, adapted to facilitatethe lifting of the reservoir.

In yet another aspect of the invention, a method for monitoring theweight of a reservoir is provided. The method comprises the steps of (a)attaching a load cell to support member of the reservoir, (b) mountingat least one measuring means to the load cell, (c) lifting the load celland the support member. The method may further comprise repeating steps(a) to (c) for each support member of the reservoir, measuring an outputsignal of the measuring means of each supporting member and computingvariation of the output signal.

In another aspect of the invention, the support member may be liftedwithout lifting the load cell. Typically, in such an embodiment, theload cell is not attached to the support member.

In a further aspect of the invention, the system for monitoring theweight of a silo may comprise a load cell having two extremities, eachextremity being adapted to be attached to a different supporting memberof the reservoir, a support member of the system adapted to be supportedby the ground, at least one measuring means attached to the load cellfor measuring the deformation of the load cell and a lifting meanadapted to connect the support member of the system to the load cellbetween the two extremities of the load cell. The lifting device isadapted to move the load cell with regards to the support member of thesystem thereby lifting the supporting member of the reservoir.

In yet another aspect of the invention, the system for monitoring theweight of a container comprises a load cell having two extremities, bothextremities being adapted to be attached to a supporting member of thecontainer. The system further comprises a lifting means located betweenthe two extremities of the load cell, the lifting means being adapted tolift the load cell and the support member of the container from theground.

The invention aims at monitoring the actual weight and/or the variationof the weight of a reservoir or silo tank. The reservoir may contain anytype of material, typically as liquid or solid material.

In one aspect of the invention, the load cell of the system is a customdesigned «shear-web type» load cell. Such load cell is adapted tomonitor and lift the reservoir. The said load cell is connected to shearstrain gauges which are mounted to about the center of a thin web inorder to measure maximum shear deformation of the steel. Off-centeredload is eliminated by the configuration of the strain gauges. Theelectric or optical signal is monitored by an electronic circuit boardand values are shown by a human machine interface. Data analysis is doneto alert any problems related to the material weight residing inside thesilo (ex.: silo almost empty). The disclosed invention allows theinstallation to be completed without the need of a crane because of itsauto lifting functionality.

Using the disclosed invention, the silo is only lifted about half aninch from its initial position. This small elevation allows a secureinstallation and eliminates the need to disconnect any feed supply lineconnected to the silo.

As the load is distributed at two support locations, the device isadapted to lift heavier loads or weight than known prior art systems.Accordingly, the present system may be securely installed on fullyloaded silos.

The present system typically does not require lifting machinery orspecialized tools as the lifting device is integrated into the loadcell.

In another aspect of the present invention, upon installing the loadcell support, the load cell is connected to the silo leg and to a firstportion of the load cell support. The load cell and the silo leg arethen lifted using the lifting device. Once lifted, the free end of theload cell is securely connected to a second portion of the load cellsupport and the lifting device may be finally removed.

In yet another aspect of the invention, both extremities of the loadcell are connected to the silo leg. The lifting device is connected toboth the load cell and the support member connected to the ground. Thelifting device is thus used to induce a movement to the load celltherefore lifting the attached silo leg. The present system aims atminimizing the installation procedure and at having a permanent liftingdevice on the reservoir.

Furthermore, such configurations aim at improving stability of themonitoring process of the weight of the reservoir in windy weather asthe silo leg is attached to the load cell, the load cell being connectedto the load cell support or the support member of the system.Preferably, the support members are anchored to the ground.

The lifting device is an integrated lifting device aiming at removingthe use of machinery to lift a silo leg in a position where the loadcell may be anchored to the silo leg for weight monitoring purposes.

In another aspect of the invention, a system for monitoring andsupporting the weight of a structure above a surface is provided, thestructure comprising at supporting members. The system comprises a loadcell being attached to one of the supporting members, an anchoringmember supporting the load cell, the anchoring member being attached tothe surface; the anchoring member comprising a lifting mechanism adaptedto upwardly or downwardly move the load cell with respect to theanchoring member and at least one mean for measuring any deformation ofthe load cell.

The load cell may further comprise a first and a second extremity, thefirst extremity being movably attached to the anchoring member and thesecond extremity being adapted to be freely moving. The lifting devicemay be adapted to upwardly and downwardly move the second extremity ofthe cell load with respect to the load cell support; the upward movementof the second extremity lifting the support element of the structure.

The lifting device may be adapted to be removed when the secondextremity of the cell load is attached to the load cell support using anattachment means. The attachment means may be a locking pin.

The load cell may be pivotally attached to one supporting member, thelifting device being pivotally attached to the second extremity of theload cell, the load cell acting as a lever mechanism. The lifting devicemay further be proximal to the at least one attachment mean or the loadcell may be pivotally attached to the supporting member about the centerof the load cell.

The system may further comprise a monitoring device for translating thedeformation of the load cell measured by the measuring mean in a signalsimulating the weight of the structure.

In another aspect of the invention, a system for monitoring andsupporting the weight of a structure above a surface is provided, thestructure comprising at least two supporting members. The systemcomprises a load cell support; the load cell support being anchored tothe surface, a load cell being movably attached to the load cellsupport; the load cell being attached to one of the supporting members,a lifting device attached to the load cell, the lifting device beingadapted to upwardly or downwardly move the load cell with respect to theload cell support and at least one mean for measuring any deformation ofthe load cell.

The lifting device may be in between both extremities of the load celland in between sides of the support element of the structure. The systemmay further comprise a monitoring device for converting the deformationof the load cell measured by the measuring mean in a signal transducingthe weight of the structure. The load cell further may comprise twoextremities, each extremity attached to one of the supporting members.

In yet another aspect of the invention, a system for monitoring andsupporting the weight of a structure above a surface is provided, thestructure comprising at least two supporting members. The systemcomprises a load cell support; the load cell support being anchored tothe surface, a load cell being movably attached to the load cellsupport; the load cell comprising two extremities; each extremity beingattached to a different support element of the structure, a liftingdevice attached to the load cell, the lifting device being adapted toupwardly or downwardly move the load cell with respect to the load cellsupport and at least one mean for measuring any deformation of the loadcell.

The lifting device may be located in between both extremities of theload cell thereby between two different support elements of thestructure. The system may further comprise a monitoring device fortranslating the deformation of the load cell measured by the measuringmean in a signal simulating the weight of the structure. The load cellmay be a custom designed “shear-web type”.

The at least one measuring means may be a shear strain gauge, such shearstrain gauges may be mounted to about center of the cell load in orderto measure maximum shear deformation of the cell load or the shearstrain gauges may be configured to eliminate off-centred load.

The system may further comprise a data analysis system to alert anyproblems related to the structure weight. The structure may further belifted about half an inch from an initial position.

In a further aspect of the invention, a system for monitoring andsupporting the weight of a structure above a surface is provided, thestructure comprising supporting members The system comprises a load cellsupport; the load cell support being anchored to the surface, a loadcell comprising two extremities; a first extremity being attached to theload cell support and a second extremity supporting a lifting device,the lifting device being adapted to upwardly or downwardly move one ofthe supporting members with respect to the load cell support and atleast one mean for measuring any deformation of the load cell.

The load of the supporting member may act as a cantilever on the loadcell and the system may further comprise a monitoring device fortranslating the deformation of the load cell measured by the measuringmean in a signal simulating the weight of the structure.

In another aspect of the present invention, a method for monitoring andsupporting the weight of a structure comprising at least one supportingelement above a surface is provided, a load cell being attached to thesupporting element. The method comprises using a lifting device toupwardly move the load cell with respect to a load cell support attachedto the surface, measuring deformation of the load cell and calculatingload of the supporting element using the deformation of the load cell.

The method may further comprise converting the measured deformation in asignal transducing the weight of the structure.

The structure may comprise more than one supporting member, the methodfurther comprising repeating all steps for each support element of thestructure.

The method may further comprise locking in a position to create a rigidconnection between the support members or maintaining the load cell at alifted position using a maintaining mean. The maintaining the load cellat a lifted position may further comprise inserting a rigid member underthe load cell.

The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel areset forth with particularity in the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the inventionwill become more readily apparent from the following description,reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective (1A) and rear (1B) views of an apparatus tomonitor the weight contained in a tank in accordance with the principlesof the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a top (A), side (B), front (C) and rear (D) views of anapparatus to monitor the weight contained in a tank in accordance withthe principles of the present invention shown in lifted position.

FIG. 3 is a top view of an apparatus to monitor the weight contained ina tank in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a side view of an apparatus to monitor the weight contained ina tank in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a front view of an apparatus to monitor the weight containedin a tank in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a rear view of an apparatus to monitor the weight contained ina tank in accordance with the principles of the present invention shownin a lifted position.

FIG. 7 is a top (A), side (B), front (C) and rear (D) views of anapparatus to monitor the weight contained in a tank in accordance withthe principles of the present invention shown in an un-lifted.

FIG. 8 is a front view of the apparatus to monitor the weight containedin a tank in accordance with the principles of the present inventionshown in the un-lifted position.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the system comprising a plurality of anapparatuses to monitor the weight contained in a tank in accordance withthe principles of the present invention; an apparatus being installed oneach leg of a silo.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of an apparatus tomonitor the weight contained in a structure in accordance with theprinciples of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a top view of the apparatus of FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a front view of the apparatus of FIG. 10.

FIG. 13 is a top view of another embodiment of an apparatus to monitorthe weight contained in a structure in accordance with the principles ofthe present invention.

FIG. 14 is a front view of the apparatus of FIG. 13.

FIG. 15 is a right side view of the apparatus of FIG. 13.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the apparatus of FIG. 13.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a cell loadsupport of the apparatus to monitor the weight contained in a tank inaccordance with the principles of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

A novel method and apparatus to monitor the material weight contained orweight of a reservoir, a tank, a silo or any other types of structureswill be described hereinafter. Although the invention is described interms of specific illustrative embodiment, it is to be understood thatthe embodiment described herein are by way of example only and that thescope of the invention is not intended to be limited thereby.

In some embodiments, the method and apparatus may be provided to monitorthe material weight contained in a silo tank. The material could beliquid or solid or a mixed of liquid and solid.

In this document, the present invention is presented as a device formonitoring a reservoir or a silo. One skilled in the art shallunderstand that the present device and method may be adapted to monitor,weight and/or lift other structures without departing from theprinciples of the present invention. As examples, the structures may bea system for weighting animals or animal food, transition hopper orother structures in which it may be required to weight the content orthe structure itself.

The present system generally allows increasing the capacity of lifting astructure, a reservoir, a silo, etc. by a multiplication factor.

Referring to FIGS. 1A and 1B representing a preferred embodiment, theload cell assembly 101 comprises a load cell 1, load cell supports 4,strain measurement systems, such as strain gauges 6, front and rearreinforcing members, such as reinforcing plates 3 and 5, and retainermembers 7, such as pins.

Still referring to FIGS. 1A and 1B, two strain measurement systems 6 areattached on both sides of the load cell to measure the maximum sheardeformation of the load cell material. The load cell 1 is typicallysupported by load cell supports 4 that solidly attached to an anchor,such as a concrete, a stake or any other mean of anchoring a load cellsupport. In a preferred embodiment, the load cell supports are screwedto the concrete using concrete anchors 17 and attaching means 16, suchas nuts.

Now referring to FIGS. 1, 3, 5 and 8, in a preferred embodiment, theload cell 1 may comprise apertures or holes 21 adapted to receive a meanfor retaining the lifting of the reservoir, such as pins 7, a centerthreaded hole 20 adapted to receive an attachment mean such as but notlimited to a main bolt 11, and a preferably threaded hole 18 adapted toreceive a jacking or lifting mechanism 19, such as a screw. The pins 7may be inserted through holes 22 of the load cell supports 4 and throughholes 21 of the load cell 1 to retain the load cell 1 in place oncebeing in a lifted position.

Referring now to FIGS. 1A and 1B, in a preferred embodiment, the tanksupport member 2, such as a leg, may comprise three holes aligned withthe longitudinal direction of a tank leg 2. In such an embodiment, thetwo superior holes are used to attach two reinforcing members 3 and 5,such as reinforcing members, at the front and rear of the tank supportmember 2, respectively. To attach the plates, two sets of attachingmeans are used, such as but not limited to bolt 8, washer 9 and nut 10.

Now referring to FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 5, the load cell 1 is shown in anun-lifted position. The apparatus 1 is pivotally attached to the tankleg or support 2 using any attachment mean 11. In a preferredembodiment, a bolt 11 is screwed through a center threaded hole 20 ofthe load cell 1, through the remaining bottom hole of the support member2, and, finally through a third bottom hole in the rear reinforcingplate 5. Understandably, any other mean for attaching the apparatus 1 tothe support member 2 could be used.

Now referring to FIGS. 7A to 7D and 8, the load cell 1 is shown in thelowered position. The load cell 1 is pivotally connected to at least oneextremity of the load cell supports 4. In a preferred embodiment, onehole 21 of the load cell 1 is attached to the load cell support 4 usinga pin 7. Still in a preferred embodiment, a lifting device, such as ajack screw 19 is screwed through the threaded hole 18 in order to liftthe load cell 1 and the attached support member 2 until the remaininghole 21 of the load cell 1 becomes aligned with the holes 22 of the loadcell support 4. The remaining pin 7 is then inserted through holes 21and 22 to lock the load cell in place.

Preferably, the jack screw 19 may then be removed. Understandably, othermean of pivotally attaching the load cell 1 to the load cell support maybe used and the invention is not limited to the preferred embodiment.

The jacking mechanism 19 typically acts as an integrated mean forlifting the container or silo. However, such mechanism 19 is requiredduring the lifting phase. When the silo is sufficiently raised, the meanfor retaining the raised silo 7 is installed to maintain the height ofthe silo. When the weight is supported by the mean for retaining 7, thejacking mechanism may then be safely removed if needed.

The lifting device aims at acting as a lever to raise the load cell 1,as the load cell 1 is pivotally connected to the tank leg 2.Accordingly, as the weight is applied about the center of the load cell,the force required to be applied to the free extremity of the load cellto lift the silo leg 2 generally corresponds to half of the weight ofthe silo leg 2. To that extend, the closer to the pivoting extremity theweight is applied, the less force needs to be applied to the freeextremity to lift the silo leg 2.

In other embodiments, the load cell 1 may be pivotally attached to thetank leg 2 for the lifting device to act as lever. Understandably, thepivotal attachment may be positioned anywhere between the sides of thetank leg 2 to adapt the lever ratio.

Now referring to FIGS. 1 and 9, the whole weight of the tank or silo isthen supported by a plurality of load cell assemblies A. The weight ofthe silo causes deformation of the load cells 1 that induces a variationin the electric or optical signal measured by the strain gauge 6. Usingmonitoring device and techniques known in the art, the variation inelectric or optical signal is than translated into a force. The weightof the silo is then computed by adding the force measured by each loadcell.

Still referring to FIGS. 1 and 9, the method to weight and lift a tankor silo comprises the steps of attaching the load cell 1 to the supportmember 2 of the reservoir, such as using a main bolt 11, attaching atleast one strain measurement system 6, such as strain gauge, to saidload cell 1, lifting said load cell 1 and the support member 2 of thereservoir using a rising mechanism or means, such as a jack screw 19,repeating the previous steps for each support member 2 of the reservoir,measuring the variation in an output signal, such as an electric oroptical signal, of said strain measurement system 6 of each supportmember 2 of the reservoir and computing the variation of the outputsignal.

The step of computing the variation of the output signal may be realizedusing any type of controller or computer device. The step may furthercomprise translating the output signal into human readable data.

Now referring to FIGS. 10 to 12 representing a second embodiment of thesystem 100, the system 100 is adapted to lift a support member 102 ofthe silo. Such system is preferably connected to each support member 102of the silo. A support member 106 of the system is preferably fixedlyconnected to the ground. Preferably, the support member 106 has an “n”shape portion 106 a and a flat portion 106 b connected together. Thesupport member 106 allows insertion of the load cell 104. The load cell104 is operatively connected to the support member 102 of the reservoirusing fasteners such as bolts 108. Understandably, any means know in theart to attach the load cell 104 to the support member 102 may be used.According to the present embodiment, the support member or tank leg 102typically comprises a concave portion 112 adapted to receive the supportmember 106, as illustrated in FIG. 11.

In a preferred embodiment, the load cell support member 106 and the loadcell 104 may each comprises an aperture adapted to receive a mean 110 toinduce movement in the load cell, such as a bolt. In embodiments using abolt, the aperture of the load cell 104 is preferably threaded to inducea movement of the load cell along the axis of the bolt means to inducemovement 110 upon rotation of the bolt 110.

The mean 110 to induce movement in the load cell typically acts as anintegrated mean for lifting the container or silo[[.]]. Once the loadcell 104 is raised to desired height or position, the pressure inducedby the bolt 110 between the support 106 a and the load cell 104 createsa rigid connection. The rigid connection generally aims at preventing anoscillatory movement induced by lateral forces on the reservoir or tank,such as wind.

In other embodiments, the aperture in the load cell 104 may not bethreaded and a nut may be inserted to the free extremity of the bolt 110below the load cell 104. In such a case, the rotation of the bolt 110with regards to the nut may be limited to allow movement of the loadcell 104 along the axis of the bolt 110.

The strain measurement systems, such as strain gauges, are operativelyattached to the load cell 104. The deformation of the load cell 104creates a variation in a signal outputted by the strain gauge. Thevariation in the output signal is computed in a force using a monitoringdevice and techniques know in the art. The weight of the reservoir isthen computed by adding the force measured by each load cell 104 of eachleg 102.

A method to lift and weight a reservoir is provided. The methodpreferably comprises attaching the extremities of the load cell 104 tothe support member 102 of the reservoir, attaching at least one strainmeasurement system, such as a strain gauge, to the load cell 104,lifting the load cell 104 and the support member 102 of the reservoirusing a lifting mean, such as a bolt 110 that is inserted in an apertureof the load cell 104, repeating the previous steps for each supportmember of the silo, measuring the variation signal output by the strainmeasurement system of each support member 102 of the reservoir andcomputing variation in the output signal electric or optical signal.

The method may further comprise the steps of attaching a support member106 to the ground and adjacent to a silo leg 102 before the step ofattaching the extremities and inducing movement in the load cell usingthe lifting mechanism, such as a bolt 110.

In the present embodiment, when the support member 102 is lifted fromthe ground, the means for inducing movement in the load cell or bolt 110is in tension. Accordingly, to avoid any structural failure of the saidmean 110, a supporting device may be inserted below the load cell 104 tomaintain the silo leg 102 above the ground and to maintain the weight ofthe silo on the load cell 104. The supporting device may be a blockpreferably made of metal that is preferably not subjected to deformationunder the weight of the silo. Such block may be inserted below the loadcell when the load cell 104 and the tank supporting member 102 areraised to a desired or maximum position in order to release the tensionapplied in the lifting bolt 110.

Now referring to FIGS. 13 to 16, another embodiment is illustrated. Thesystem 100 differs from the second embodiment as the support member 106has a generally “r” or “c” shape portion 106 a instead of a generally“n” shape. The support member 106 further comprises a flat portion 106 bwhich preferably lies on the ground to support the weight of the siloleg 102.

Still referring to FIGS. 13 to 16, the load cell 104 may furthercomprise hollow portion(s) 104 a. Such hollow portions(s) typically aimat reducing the weight and/or at allowing greater deformation under theweight of the silo leg 102. In some situations, the weight of the siloleg 102 may be difficult to estimate if the force produced by suchweight does not induce a flexion in the load cell 104. The strain gauge(not shown) may undergo a force that is not sufficient to be accuratelynumerically translated in a weight value. Such strain gauge is typicallyaffixed to the load cell 104.

Understandably, any shape and/or features adapted to support a flexionload may be used without departing from the scope or principles of thepresent invention.

In a further embodiment, the supporting member 106 of the system may beexcluded. Both extremities of the load cell 104 are attached to thesupporting member 102 of the reservoir. In a rest position, both thesupport member 102 and the load cell 104 preferably contact the ground.The load cell 104 may be provided with a threaded aperture adapted toreceive a lifting mechanism, such as a bolt 110.

In embodiments using a bolt, the bolt 110 is to move the load cell 104.In operation, once the free extremity of the bolt 110 reaches the bottomof the load cell, the bolt 110 pushes against the ground and lifts theload cell 104 and the support member 102 of the reservoir. Contrary tothe other embodiments where the bolt 110 supports the weigh in tension,the bolt 110 supports the weight in compression.

By attaching the load cell close to the ground, the length of the bolt110 or system to induce movement, which is located between the groundand the bottom of the load cell, is reduced. Such reduced length of thebolt 110 aims at minimizing the risk of buckling of the bolt 110.

When the support member 102 of the reservoir has a height for which allthe weight of the reservoir is supported by the load cell 104, asupporting device, such as a block preferably made of metal, may beinserted below the load cell 104 and the bolt 110 may be relaxed orremoved.

In yet another embodiment, as shown in FIG. 17, the load cell support206 may be adapted to comprise a generally “n” shape portion 206 a and apartially curved portion 206 b connected together. The support member206 allows an easier insertion of the load cell 104. Thus, such aconfiguration does not require removing the anchoring means originallypresents on the supported structure while installing the measurementmeans. Further, such a configuration of the load cell support allowsattaching directly the load cell to the support member of the structurewithout using an adapting auxiliary member.

Still referring to FIG. 17, the load cell support 206 may comprisedifferent size and forms of apertures 208 adapted to receive differentfasteners.

While illustrative and presently preferred embodiments of the inventionhave been described in detail hereinabove, it is to be understood thatthe inventive concepts may be otherwise variously embodied and employedand that the appended claims are intended to be construed to includesuch variations except insofar as limited by the prior art

1) A system for monitoring and supporting the weight of a structureabove a surface, the structure comprising supporting members, the systemcomprising: an anchoring member attached to the surface; a load cellsupport attached to the surface; a load cell acting as a levermechanism, the load cell comprising: a first end section pivotallyattached to the anchoring member; a second end section adapted toreceive a lifting mechanism, the lifting mechanism being adapted toupwardly or downwardly move the second end section of the load cell withrespect to the load cell support; the load cell being pivotally attachedto one of the supporting members between the first and the second endsections; at least one means for measuring any deformation of the loadcell. 2) The system of claim 1, the upward movement of the second endsection lifting the supporting member attached to the load cell. 3) Thesystem of claim 1, the lifting mechanism being adapted to be removedwhen the second end section of the load cell is attached to the loadcell support using an attachment means. 4) The system of claim 3, theattachment means comprising a bolt and a locking pin. 5) The system ofclaim 3, the lifting mechanism being proximal to the attachment means.6) The system of claim 1, the lifting mechanism being attached to thesecond end section of the load cell. 7) The system of claim 1, thelifting mechanism being a bolt and the second section of the load cellcomprising a threaded passage to receive the bolt. 8) The system ofclaim 1, the lifting mechanism being integrated in the load cell. 9) Thesystem of claim 1, the load cell being pivotally attached to the supportmember about the center of the load cell. 10) The system of claim 1, thesystem further comprising a monitoring device for translatingdeformation of the load cell measured by the measuring means in a signalsimulating the weight of the structure. 11) The system of claim 1, thefirst and second end sections of the load cell being the first andsecond extremities of the load cell. 12) The system of claim 1, the loadcell support being U-shaped. 13) A method for monitoring and supportingthe weight of a structure comprising at least one supporting elementabove a surface, a load cell being attached to the at least onesupporting element, the method comprising: pivotally attaching a firstend section of the load cell to an anchoring member; pivotally attachingthe load cell to at least one supporting element; lifting a second endsection of the load cell to upwardly move the load cell until a desiredposition is reached above the surface; when the desired position isreached, maintaining the second end section of the load cell at thedesired position; measuring deformation of the load cell; calculatingload of the supporting element using the deformation of the load cell.14) The method of claim 13, the lifting of the second end sectionfurther comprising using a lifting mechanism. 15) The method of claim14, the method further comprising removing the lifting mechanism whenthe second end section is maintained at the desired position. 16) Themethod of claim 13, the method further comprising converting themeasured deformation in a signal transducing the weight of thestructure. 17) The method of claim 13, the structure comprising morethan one supporting element, the method further comprising repeating allsteps for each supporting element of the structure. 18) The method ofclaim 13, maintaining the second end section of the load cell at thedesired position further comprising using a maintaining means. 19) Themethod of claim 18, the method further comprising locking the second endsection in a position to create a rigid connection between the load celland the maintaining means. 20) The method of claim 18, the methodfurther comprising lowering the second end section until the maintainingmeans supports the load cell. 21) The method of claim 13, maintainingthe second end section of the load cell at the desired position furthercomprising attaching the second end to a load cell support anchored tothe surface. 22) The method of claim 21 where maintaining the second endsection of the load cell at the desired position further comprisesinserting a bolt through the load cell and the load cell support andlocking the bolt with a locking pin. 23) The method of claim 21, themethod further comprising lowering the second end section until the loadcell support supports the load cell. 24) The method of claim 13, whereinmaintaining the second end section of the load cell at the desiredposition further comprises inserting a rigid member under the load cell.25) The method of claim 24, the method further comprising lowering thesecond end section until the rigid member supports the load cell.